On the 1st January 2020, Croatia began its six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union, unveiling ambitious plans as part of the rotating presidency which Croatia will hold till 30th June 2020. A strong Europe in a world of challenges, is the slogan of the programme which looks towards ‘A Europe that develops, A Europe that connects, A Europe that protects and an influential Europe.’ Among Croatia’s top […]
The newly released “European Green Deal” contains a palpable sense of support for improved social inclusion in a green and just transition but lacks urgency and detail on exactly how the EU proposes to implement such change. The deal, referring to “new business models”, fails to explicitly mention the role of existing sustainable entities such as social enterprises active in re-use and repair already providing up-skilling, jobs and training to […]
In reaction to the worldwide “Black Friday” event, Envie, the French network of social enterprises working in re-use established the idea of a “Green Friday” in 2017. A green army of 400 organisations rejecting Black Friday practices now support the sustainable alternative to overconsumption and overproduction, Green Friday. Among these are the major networks of social enterprises such as Emmaüs France and RESSOURCES in Belgium. This third edition of the […]
Each year, RREUSE members divert over 1 million tonnes of material from landfill through re-use, repair and recycling. Combined across the wider RREUSE network, this is equivalent to the weight of 137 Eiffel Towers[1]. As part of the European Week for Waste Reduction and starting on the 16th of November, the Reuse More Throw Less Campaign is back. What does this mean and why is it so important? From the […]
On 7 November 2019, RREUSE held its 3rd International Conference in Berriozar, focusing on the role of social and solidarity enterprises in the circular economy. The RREUSE network diverts over 1 million tonnes of material from landfill every year – which is equivalent to the weight of 137 Eiffel Towers. The conference, co-organised by AERESS and Traperos de Emaús Navarra, welcomed over 140 participants from 17 different countries. RREUSE was […]
RREUSE welcomes news from Luxembourg that today, October 24th 2019, the Council of the European Union has adopted conclusions on the economy of wellbeing. Earlier in its presidency, Finland expressed the need for a paradigm shift in Europe towards an economy of wellbeing. [1] The council conclusions include recommendations and measures for both EU Member States and the Commission, stressing the need to move towards an economy that works for […]
On 22 and 23 October, EMULSA hosted the launch meeting of 2LIFES, a European project involving seven partners to promote re-use through public policies. 2LIFES is part of the fourth call of the Interreg Europe programme in which 170 applications were submitted and only 74 selected. The project officially started on 1 August 2019 and will last for 42 months, ending in 2023. With a budget of €1,383,826, 2LIFES operates […]
We all have drawers and cupboards we don’t dare open anymore because we’re worried its unsteady and rickety content will knock us over… But you might find some forgotten gems left hibernating and in need of some tinkering. Today is Repair Day 2019, so arm yourself with tools (and a sturdy helmet…) and save these items from premature burial! Ever since 2017, Repair Day takes place every year to promote […]
RREUSE collaborates with six international partners on re-use. From the 7-10 October, partners from seven European countries, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Italy, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden, discussed the future of re-use in Europe at the headquarters of AURI, the Umbrian Waste and Water Authority in Perugia, Italy. Representatives from regional governments like Styria and Catalonia, waste authorities such as Vakin from Sweden, managers and experts of re-use centres were amongst […]
After having persistently pushed and advocated for measures facilitating repair[1], the RREUSE office optimistically welcomed the European Commission’s newly adopted EU Ecodesign regulations on 1 October 2019[2]. As of 2021 and for the very first time, the measures require manufacturers to produce longer-lasting products and provide professional repairers with spare parts up to 10 years after the purchase date. Added to that, spare parts will need to be replaceable using […]